Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 12, 2026

Pinolate (cookie)

Pinolate or pignolate are a type of cookie originating in Neapolitan, Genovese and Umbrian cuisine. They are popular in all of southern Italy, and in Sicilian communities in the United States, where they may also be known as pignoli.

Last revised
Jul 12, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
297 w
Citations
13
Source
Pinolate
TypeMacaroon
Place of originItaly
Region or state
Main ingredientsAlmond paste, pine nuts4

Pinolate ( pl.: Italian: [pinoˈlaːte]) or pignolate (Italian: [piɲɲoˈlaːte], sg.: pinolata / pignolata) are a type of cookie originating in Neapolitan, Genovese and Umbrian cuisine.567 They are popular in all of southern Italy, and in Sicilian communities in the United States, where they may also be known as pignoli (sg.: pignolo).8

Christmas pignoli cookies from Charleston, South Carolina source ↗

The cookies are light golden color and studded with golden pine nuts (pinoli in Italian). Made with almond paste and egg whites, they are moist, soft and chewy.91011

Pinolate are a popular Italian holiday treat, especially at Christmas. Because both almond paste and pine nuts are relatively expensive and these cookies use substantial amounts of both, it is a luxury food.12

Being essentially an almond macaroon, pinolate belong to a type known as "amaretto".13


See also

See also

Media related to Panellets at Wikimedia Commons

References

References

  1. "Le Pinolate". La Pasticceria Di Chico.
  2. "Pinolate o pignolate genovesi". Giallo Zafferano. 17 November 2022.
  3. "Le Pinolate Umbre". La Cucina Di Esme. 2018.
  4. "Pignoli". Chowhound. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  5. "Le Pinolate". La Pasticceria Di Chico.
  6. "Pinolate o pignolate genovesi". Giallo Zafferano. 17 November 2022.
  7. "Le Pinolate Umbre". La Cucina Di Esme. 2018.
  8. "Pignoli Cookies". The Spruce Eats. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  9. "Italian Pignoli Cookies". Taste of Home.
  10. "Italian Pignoli Cookies". King Arthur Baking.
  11. Armao, Jo-Ann (2005-12-14). "Pignoli? George, I Finally Got It". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  12. Elliott, Lorraine. "Santa's Little Helper: Pignoli Cookies". Not Quite Nigella. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  13. Booth, Jessica (2018-12-11). "The Fascinating History Behind Your Favorite Holiday Cookies". Redbook. Retrieved 2021-06-15.